"...And after everything that's happened, it’s just been one ordeal after another!"
"A lot really has happened while I've been in the hospital. It sounds... intense."
"Hurry up and get discharged, Fee! You’re the only one who can give me any peace!"
At that moment, Yugo was visiting Fee in the hospital, practically weeping as he unburdened himself to his younger brother.
Fee reached out and patted the head of his older brother. Yugo wasn't worn down by the Kurotobari incident or Egos's expulsion, but by the relentless romantic drama surrounding the girls in his life.
"I know it's hard for you, Brother, but I'm happy," Fee said. "It means more people are starting to understand how great you are."
"But man, it’s a problem, isn't it? I’m still a student, you know? Even so, everyone is skipping right past dating and talking about marriage or becoming a family successor. I can't even begin to wrap my head around it..."
"I guess you're right," Fee agreed with a wry smile, nodding in sympathy. Then, he lowered his gaze slightly. "I’m happy the people from Yamato have accepted you, Brother, but I’d hate for you to get married... If you move somewhere far away, I won't be able to see you whenever I want."
Fee muttered the thought under his breath, clearly pained by the idea of a future where they were separated.
Before Yugo could respond, Yui—who had accompanied him on the visit—chimed in.
"Oh, then Fee should just come to Yamato too! That way, you can stay with your brother!"
"Eh? E-Ehhh!?"
Fee looked utterly bewildered by her cheerful suggestion.
Yui, clearly enjoying herself, launched a relentless verbal assault on the flustered boy. "It's the perfect plan! That way, you can stay with your brother. And once Yugo-san inherits the House of Kogarashi or Amamiya and makes you his aide, our future will be secure!"
"E-Even if I went to Yamato, I wouldn’t really have anything to do there..."
"Oh? Yamato has mountains of technology and books that even you don't know about, Fee. Don't you think it would be interesting to research and develop them from an outsider's perspective?"
"U-Um, well..."
Fee, being naturally timid, was completely overwhelmed by her aggressive persistence.
Watching them with a smile, Yugo felt a surge of warmth. It seemed springtime had finally arrived for his little brother. Ever since the incident at the Insect Museum, Yui had been extremely taken with Fee. Seeing him stand his ground to protect her despite the life-or-death crisis had clearly made a deep impression.
Given her tomboyish nature, Yui was the type to charge headlong toward the person she liked. It wasn't exactly a case of 'Big Love Spreading Throughout the World!', but Fee was clearly feeling the pressure of her unabashed affection.
He turned to his brother, pleading for an escape. "B-Brother, say something!"
"Hmm? You look like you’re having a good time! Don’t be so shy, Fee!"
"Ah! You were enjoying watching me struggle! That’s mean!"
"Don't say that. Now you understand a little bit of what I'm going through, right?"
"Hmph!"
Fee puffed out his cheeks and sulked, so Yugo gave his head a vigorous rub. While Fee looked dissatisfied, he didn't brush his brother’s hand away. As Yui watched the two of them with a satisfied smile, the door to the hospital room opened.
"Excuse me. Is Yugo-san here?"
"Ah... Utsusemi-san?"
The visitor was Raiha, who had been caught up in the recent trouble. Yugo nodded back to her after she bowed her head in greeting the moment their eyes met.
"Is something wrong? Coming all the way to the hospital like this..."
"I have something I’d like to discuss," she said, her voice dropping. "Could you spare me a moment of your time?"
Raiha had recently suffered the misfortune of catching Egos red-handed during a break-in, only to be attacked by him. While Ryuga was currently being questioned by various parties about the incident, Raiha—the primary victim—had gone out of her way to leave the academy grounds just to find Yugo.
She gave him a straightforward look, but the atmosphere she projected suggested she didn't want to talk in front of the others.
"Fee, Yui-chan, sorry. I’m going to go talk with Utsusemi-san for a bit. Wait here, you two."
"Ah, okay."
"Yes, I understand."
Yugo stood up and gave them a reassuring smile before following Raiha out of the room. They stopped in a quiet, deserted hallway.
"I’m sorry for interrupting your time with your brother," she began.
"It’s no problem. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"It’s about Ryuga-san. Truly, I should speak to him directly, but I’ve missed the opportunity many times..." Raiha spoke with a grave expression, her eyes cast toward the floor.
As Yugo listened to her explain that the matter concerned his roommate and partner, Raiha continued. "...I think you might be troubled by how to react to such a sudden conversation. However, I felt it was best to tell you, as you are someone recognized by Setsuna-chan, Sakura-chan, and Ryuga-san himself."
Still looking down, Raiha explained her reasoning for coming to him. As Yugo sensed the seriousness of the situation from the way she was tightly clenching her fists, Raiha looked up and was about to speak—when it happened.
"Kyaa!"
Suddenly, a man came charging down the hall. He barreled past them, shoving Raiha aside. Caught off guard by the man's momentum, she lost her footing and tumbled to the floor.
"Utsusemi-san! Hey! You!"
Yugo shouted at the man, who was not only running at full speed inside a hospital but hadn't even bothered to apologize after striking someone. The man didn't even look back as he sprinted away.
Good grief, some people have no manners, Yugo thought as he helped Raiha back to her feet. But just then, a new disturbance struck—not just him, but the entire hospital.